Wrench



H. a. HANSON WRENCH Filed June 19.- 1922 H. E..Hansmn Patented June 24, 1924.

NITED T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANS GEORGE HAN-I very quickly adjusted and which is readily held in adjusted positions. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a deviceof this character in which the teeth engaged by the lock for securing the movable jaw in position are automatically cleaned by the look during its move ment to adjusted position, thereby preventing the accumulation of dirt from jamming the wrench and preventing proper action thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a Wrench of this character which is extremely simple in its construction, durable in service and a general improvement in the art.

These and other objects I attain by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like referenc characters designate like parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with my inven tion;

Figure 2 is a similar view, the sliding yoke being shown in section;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the opposite side of the wrench;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan of the wrench; and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a shank substantially rectangular in cross section and provided at one end with a handle 11 and at the opposite end with a fixed jaw 12. Slidably mounted upon the shank 10 is a yoke 13 bearing a relatively movable jaw 14,

Application filed June 19, 1922.

WRENCH. 4 1.1,;

Serial No. 569,208.

The yoke 13 is provided beneath the relatively movable jaw 14 with openings 15 and 16 in a side and the front face thereof, respectively, these openings communicating one with the other and with the opening of the yoke through which the shank 10 is directed. These openings combine to form a recess in which is rotatably mounted upon a pin 17 engaged in the end walls of the recess, an adjusting lock nut 18. nut 18 is substantially rectangular in cross section and is provided upon one sid face thereof with gripping teeth 19 adapted to coact with the gripping teeth 20 formed upon the front face ofthe shank 10. These teeth are preferably formed upon an arouately curved surface which is convex and which coacts with a similarly concave surface bearing the teeth 20 of the shank.

A further side face of the nut 18 has eX- tending therethrough an operating finger grip piece 21 and the remaining sides are plain and preferably connected by a rounded or curved corner 22. Secured t0 the side face of the yoke in any suitable manner is a spring 23 of desired length, thelower extremity of which is provided with a reverted portion 24 extending into the recess formed by the openings 15 and 16 and normally spaced from the adjacent wall of the opening 16. This spring abuts against these 1 side faces and is moved out of position by the rounded corner 22 during movement of the nut, this rounded corner acting as a cam. When engaged with either of the plain side faces of the nut 18 the nut is held against movement by the s ring but may be shifted by engagement of the hand with the finger piece. When the nut is in the inoperative position it has no engagement whatever with the shank and since this nut forms the only manner of engagement between the yoke and shank, the yoke is freely slidable thereon. When, however, the nut is shifted to bring the teeth 19 thereof into engagement with the teeth 20 of the shank, the yoke is locked against movement and the wrench is ready for use. In order to prevent the collection of dirt, greaseand the like in the teeth 20 of the shank from interfering with the operation of the nut and of the wrench, I make the spring 23 of less width than the opening 16 so that a portion of the latter in alignment with the teeth 20 of the shank 10, will always be uncovered so that the dirt balled by the passage of the The lock teeth 19 through the teeth 20 may be forced out.

From the foregoing it is believed to be obvious that a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended for the reason that the same is very simple in its construction and operation and very positive in its locking engagement and for the further reason that means are provided to prevent jamming of the wrench from the'accumulation of dirt in the locking teeth thereof. It will furthermore be obvious that the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable of some change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 2- A Wrench comprising a shank terminating in a fixed jaw ayoke slidable upon the shank and formed with a longitudinal bore through which the shank passes, said shank bein formed at its front face with a plurality (if teeth, the;yoke terminating in ajaw cooperating with said first named jaw, the yoke being formed in opposite sides with openings communicating with said bore, a pivot pin extending longitudinally of the yoke and traversing the openings, a toothed nut member eccentrically mounted upon said pin and cooperating with said first named teeth. for effecting locking of the yoke said nut member being formed with a finger piece projecting through and beyond one of the openings and having a shoulder engaging an edge thereof, and a leaf spring mounted upon the side of the yoke opposite that from which the finger piece extends, said spring engaging the nut member for selectively holding the same in operative or inoperative position, said spring extending across the other opening and having a width less than that of the opening tnerebeneath whereby a portion of the opening opposite the interengaging teeth will always be uncovered to permit forcing out of any dirt accumulating between the teeth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

HANS GEORGE HANSON. 

